The Best Things to See + Do in Scottsdale

What to See

Taliesin West

Photo courtesy of Lesley Mirza

If like us, you’re a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, visiting the desert masterpiece, Taliesin West, is a definite must-do.

Just minutes from downtown Scottsdale and set on 600 acres on the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, Wright created an architectural wonder in his much-celebrated style, constructed using native materials. This world-renowned property was designed to be his winter home, studio and architectural laboratory, and now, in addition to being the home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Taliesin, The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, acts as a museum.

There are a variety of guided public tours where visitors can experience Wright’s brilliance. The most popular is the 90-Minute Insights Tour, and includes visiting the Wrights’ living quarters and the gracious Taliesin West living room known as the “Garden Room.”

Taliesin West is one of 10 buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that have been nominated by the United States to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale Museum of the West

Photo courtesy of Lesley Mirza

Get your cowboy history fix at Scottsdale’s recently opened story-telling institute, the Museum of the West.

Located downtown and showcasing the history, art, culture and unique stories of all 19 states in the American West, visitors will enjoy the rotating exhibitions that feature Western art, rare historic artifacts and cultural treasures on loan from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions.

Desert Botanical Garden

Photo courtesy of Lesley Mirza

Explore the wonders of nature at this renowned desert museum, which features the world’s finest collection of arid plants over approximately 140-acres.

With the garden’s trail map in hand, leisurely wander along the five thematic trails that illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants and people of the Sonoran Desert, and desert wildflowers. We loved learning about the different species of cacti and succulents.

Specialized tours are available at an extra cost; check online for times and prices.

About the author

Lesley Mirza

Lesley Mirza is the editor-in-chief for LipstickLifestyle.com and travels the world tasting, sipping, and spa-ing.

In addition to heading up LipstickLifestyle.com, Lesley has penned pieces for several publications, including Vancouver Magazine, Western Living, 29Secrets.com, InsideVancouver.ca (Tourism Vancouver's blog), and VancityBuzz.com.